Is anyone that isn't restrained by an NDA using the XT Network now?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Is anyone that isn't restrained by an NDA using the XT Network now?

scottjpalmer

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#33202 3-May-2009 01:08

There was talk a while back of overseas visitors being able to roam on the XTN before the launch. Is anyone currently playing and able to comment on coverage, speed, voice quality, signal strength, etc?

I have ordered a Novatel Wireless EU870D for my Dell XPS M1330 laptop, it should be here early this week. I also have a couple of Telstra AU SIM cards on the way.

NealR

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#211863 3-May-2009 11:55

Customers from overseas operators have been roaming on the XT Network since approx November 2008.

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#211866 3-May-2009 13:06

Where did you order that? do you know what Telecom will be offering?

scottjpalmer

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#211869 3-May-2009 13:34

The WWAN module from ebay ($164 to my door from the UK, second hand of course) and the SIM card from my Mrs who is about to get on a plane back to NZ from Melbourne :-)

No I don't know what they will be offering but it is bound to be competitive and my current "plug in a usb modem" is tiring when my laptop has the bits needed to not have to do this. A 900MHz UMTS module isn't available as Dell has locked the BIOS to only allow a very select handful of WWAN modules to be installed in this machine.

stevenz

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#212138 4-May-2009 16:08

I know someone who has been testing it in some form since 2007. Unfortunately he's never been allowed to say much more than "it exists" and that the new phones are good. He's a fair way up the food chain, so he's just about NDA'd to death :)

Why import au SIMs to use them to roam in NZ? Wouldn't that be a horrendously expensive option? I know the reverse is certainly the case.

I can sell you a 2100Mhz Vodem cheap.

NealR

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#212148 4-May-2009 16:38

@stevenz Your friend can only have been testing on the GSM equipment we threw away because it was 15yr old technology as the WCDMA850 decision was not made until August 2008.

As an aside it's normally the people "down the chain" and not "up the chain" who do the testing ;)

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paradoxsm

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#212149 4-May-2009 16:49

Ew a vodem, HISSSSSS!

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scottjpalmer

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#212325 4-May-2009 23:49

stevenz: Why import au SIMs to use them to roam in NZ? Wouldn't that be a horrendously expensive option? I know the reverse is certainly the case.

I can sell you a 2100Mhz Vodem cheap.

I am going to Sydney / Melbourne next week so will be using it over there anyway. Figured seeing as the Mrs was over there might as well have a crack at getting on XTN just for fun. But yes, hideously expensive.

No need for the Vodem ta, I have a Novatel Wireless MC990D USB 900/2100 HSPA stick.

PenultimateHop

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#212737 6-May-2009 01:24

scottjpalmer: There was talk a while back of overseas visitors being able to roam on the XTN before the launch. Is anyone currently playing and able to comment on coverage, speed, voice quality, signal strength, etc?

It's a bit difficult to quantify as some of these are not in control of XT (speed, voice quality for inbound calls) but within the control of the inbound roamer's network.

I've roamed onto XT a few times over the last few months and it has worked 'fine'. The first inbound attempt did not support packet data roaming, but voice and SMS worked fine for both inbound and outbound calls.

I've noticed an increasing number of overseas operators showing Telecom as a New Zealand roaming partner - often with much more competitive prices, which is good news for me as an inbound roamer.

Roaming was with a UMTS2100 device.

scottjpalmer

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#212939 6-May-2009 20:28

Wooohooooo it works (This post is posted from the XT Network)

I am using a Telstra AU SIM in my Dell XPS M1330 with its newly installed Novatel Wireless EU870D

At 1.5c/kB this is the extent of my testing though - bring on my Sydney / Melbourne visit next week and then the return to NZ and just maybe an XTN SIM card

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#212950 6-May-2009 21:10

scottjpalmer: Wooohooooo it works (This post is posted from the XT Network)

Ah, no wonder my previous post didnt show up. I was using my vodafone palm treo 750v tethered to my laptop. Maybe it will magically appear in a weeks or so?

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scottjpalmer

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#212974 6-May-2009 22:45

Very nice, thanks.

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#212976 6-May-2009 22:52

scottjpalmer: Wooohooooo it works (This post is posted from the XT Network)

I am using a Telstra AU SIM in my Dell XPS M1330 with its newly installed Novatel Wireless EU870D

At 1.5c/kB this is the extent of my testing though - bring on my Sydney / Melbourne visit next week and then the return to NZ and just maybe an XTN SIM card

Go on, speed a few $$ and give us a speed test :)

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scottjpalmer

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#212986 6-May-2009 23:18

coffeebaron:
scottjpalmer: Wooohooooo it works (This post is posted from the XT Network)

I am using a Telstra AU SIM in my Dell XPS M1330 with its newly installed Novatel Wireless EU870D

At 1.5c/kB this is the extent of my testing though - bring on my Sydney / Melbourne visit next week and then the return to NZ and just maybe an XTN SIM card

Go on, speed a few $$ and give us a speed test :)

Yikes, a 1MB speedtest would cost AU$15!!

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#213075 7-May-2009 10:02

eXDee: Hey guys,

Just found out some info. I didn't even see an NDA or have any mention of one, so i don't see the problem with sharing .........

So you went to the roadshow then ;)